late 14c., attested in Anglo-Latin from mid-13c., via Old French almanach or directly from Medieval Latin almanachus, which is of uncertain origin. It is sometimes said to be from a Spanish-Arabic al-manakh "calendar, almanac" but possibly ultimately from Late Greek almenichiakon "calendar," which itself is said to be of Coptic origin. This word has been the subject of much speculation. Originally a book of permanent tables of astronomical data; one-year versions, combined with ecclesiastical calendars, date from 16c.; "astrological and weather predictions appear in 16-17th c.; the 'useful statistics' are a modern feature" [OED].